Cited by 148Ubiquitin and proteasome pathwaysDNA Repair MechanismsGenomics and Chromatin Dynamics

USP7 is a SUMO deubiquitinase essential for DNA replication.

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Lecona, Emilio, Rodriguez-Acebes, Sara, Specks, Julia, Lopez-Contreras, Andres J, Ruppen, Isabel, Murga, Matilde, Muñoz, Javier, Mendez, Juan +1 more·2016·Nature Structural & Molecular Biology

Abstract

Post-translational modification of proteins by ubiquitin (Ub) and Ub-like modifiers regulates DNA replication. We have previously shown that chromatin around replisomes is rich in SUMO and poor in Ub, whereas mature chromatin exhibits an opposite pattern. How this SUMO-rich, Ub-poor environment is maintained at sites of DNA replication in mammalian cells remains unexplored. Here we identify USP7 as a replisome-enriched SUMO deubiquitinase that is essential for DNA replication. By acting on SUMO and SUMOylated proteins, USP7 counteracts their ubiquitination. Inhibition or genetic deletion of USP7 leads to the accumulation of Ub on SUMOylated proteins, which are displaced away from replisomes. Our findings provide a model explaining the differential accumulation of SUMO and Ub at replication forks and identify an essential role of USP7 in DNA replication that should be considered in the development of USP7 inhibitors as anticancer agents.

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  • USP7 can cleave ubiquitin chains that are attached to SUMO, regardless of whether SUMO is itself attached to another substrate or free-floating.

    “USP7 can, however, cleave ubiquitin chains that are attached to the small ubiquitin-like modifier, SUMO, regardless of whether SUMO is itself attached to another substrate or otherwise free-floating (Lecona et al., 2016).”

    From USP7 Is a Master Regulator of Genome Stability (2020) · cites this paper as Lecona et al., 2016

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Authors
Lecona, E., Rodriguez-Acebes, S., Specks, J., Lopez-Contreras, A. J., Ruppen, I., Murga, M., Muñoz, J., Mendez, J., & Fernandez-Capetillo, O.
Affiliations
  • Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (ES)
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
Corresponding author
Lecona, Emilio
Venue
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
Published
2016-03-07
Volume
23
Issue
4
Pages
270-277
ISSN
  • 1545-9985 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-9993
OpenAlex
W2294047283
Cited by
148
References
77
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 9
FWCI
10.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Structural & Molecular Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) (submittedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › DNA Repair Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
Keywords
USP7, DNA replication, SUMOylation, ubiquitination, replisome, replication fork, chromatin, USP7 inhibitors, anticancer drug targets
MeSH terms
Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7, DNA Damage, DNA Repair, DNA Replication, HeLa Cells, Humans, Models, Molecular, Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins, Ubiquitin Thiolesterase, HCT116 Cells, Ubiquitination, Sumoylation, Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases

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